A High Court in Port Harcourt has delivered a landmark judgment that has seen one Promise Thompson and his accomplice, Beatrice Ogbunka, facing the consequences of their heinous crimes. The court sentenced Thompson to death by hanging for armed robbery and child theft, while Ogbunka reportedly fled after being granted bail by the police.
The duo stood trial on a three-count charge of armed robbery, kidnapping, and child theft. They were accused of shooting one Chidiebere Ogbugu and stealing his five-year-old child in the Rumuolumeni area of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State on October 25, 2018.
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In delivering the verdict, the presiding judge, Justice Sika Henry-Aprioku, noted that the prosecution counsel had provided compelling evidence that Thompson took the infant to Abia State and sold him to a syndicate who also sold the boy to another syndicate. The judge, therefore, found Thompson guilty of armed robbery and child theft, which are serious crimes that are punishable by death.
The court also sentenced one Chisom Lucky to seven years imprisonment, while her husband, Lucky, was sentenced to ten years for child theft. They were both found guilty of buying the child from Thompson and selling him off afterward. The court’s decision to convict them serves as a strong message to all those who engage in child trafficking and other forms of child abuse.
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The judgment has been hailed by many as a victory for justice and a deterrent to other criminals who may want to engage in similar crimes. The verdict sends a clear message that no one is above the law, and the judiciary will always ensure that justice is served, regardless of the offender’s status or position.
